The Day of Destiny

from Le Morte dArthur

By
Sir Thomas Malory

Geschke/British Literature
The Day of Destiny

Arthurs Dream

He was appareled in gold cloth and

seated in a chair which stood on a pivoted
scaffold. Below him, many fathoms deep,
was a dark well, and in the water swam
serpents, dragons, and wild beasts.
Suddenly the scaffold tilted and Arthur
was flung into the water, where all the
creatures struggled toward him and began
tearing him limb from limb. (216)
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The Day of Destiny

Arthurs Dream
Beasts of the water
Serpents
symbol of evil and deception
Sir Modred
Foreshadowing the death of King
Arthur?

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The Day of Destiny

Arthurs Dream
Vision of Sir Gawain

Begs King Arthur not to battle Sir

Modred tomorrow.
Wait for Lancelot to come back and he
will defeat Sir Modred

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The Day of Destiny

Characteristics of King Arthur

Hero

Honorable
Brave
Super-natural

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The Day of Destiny

The Snake

Bites the knight

The knight pulls out his sword to kill
the serpent
As soon as the sword is drawn, both
sides see it as an act of war.
Because of the serpent, many people
die

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The Day of Destiny

The Honorable Knights

The knights give their lives for King
Arthur
Sir Lucan the Butler

Dies trying to comfort and protect King

Arthur

Sir Bedivere the Bold

Lives with the monk to honor King

Arthur
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The Day of Destiny

The End of King Arthur?

Tomb stone inscription:

Here lies Arthur, the once and future

king.

Legend

Some believe Arthur did not die and the

he will return Britain to glory.

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The Day of Destiny

Questions
1. Which of Arthurs actions seem to be
honorable? Which do not?
2. Why does Sir Thomas Mallory use a
snake to cause the battle? To what
does this image allude?
3. What is effective about the
ambiguous ending of Le Morte d
Arthur?
Geschke/British Literature
The Day of Destiny